Leah Remini: I Lost Friends When I Left Scientology

Leah Remini isn't one to mince words, so it comes as no surprise that she tackled Ellen DeGeneres's questions about her recent departure from Scientology head on. (Though it is worth noting she avoided getting into too many specifics -- probably because she didn't want to stir the pot any more than she already has.)

The "Dancing With the Stars" contestant was the inaugural guest to kick off "Ellen's" 11th season, and the host wasted no time in getting down to business by asking the 43-year-old actress why she left the church.

"My mother got involved when we were very young, so it was all that we really ever knew," Remini explained. "But over time, my eyes opened and I could just no longer be affiliated with the organization, and my family felt the same, so we left."

But just because the star had her family's support didn't mean she had everyone's. "It's hard," she mused. "We have lost friends that can no longer talk to us who are still in the organization." Ellen jumped in to say there is a rule in Scientology that if you leave the church, other people who are still members are not allowed to talk to you anymore.

"Correct," Leah said before adding, "And these are friends that we've had for dozens of years, but we have great friends -- other friends that are not in the church -- who have stood by us."

However, despite losing some pals in this process, Remini insists it was the right decision. "Our family is stronger. We're together, and that's all I can ask for."

Later in the show, though, after Leah strapped Ellen into a few items she had purchased from "As Seen on TV" ads -- including a neck stretcher (which claims to provide stress relief) and a bra that you can drink liquor out of through a plastic tube -- Ellen speculated that perhaps Leah didn't leave Scientology at all. "I think you got kicked out," she quipped.

Perhaps we'll never know all of the details of this saga for sure, but something tells us the Church of Scientology has other stuff to worry about than one woman and her wine-filled bra.